The Airports Authority of India, along with its cargo services arm AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company (AAICLAS), is working to automate cargo handling at the airport, Keku Gazder, Chief Executive, AAICLAS, said.

Addressing an interactive session on ‘Business Promotion & Development of Air Cargo’ organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry here on Monday, Gazder said automation would be completed by November-end.

Focus on new verticals The focus would be on new businesses, products and new verticals in cargo trade, besides development of pack house facilities and development of ICD, bonded truck and offshore AFS facilities in the region. AAICLAS will also focus on development of apron for cargo docking and landing of wide-bodied aircraft.

The company is also looking to bring in a dedicated vertical within the organisation to offer trucking facilities in the region.

The cargo movement from the region is growing at 15 to 20 per cent year-on-year and this is bound to see a surge with the proposed automation of cargo handing facilities and India’s open space policy for cargo. “This is expected to attract freighter airlines to the city in the forthcoming months,” he added.

Grievance reddressal Responding to the issues faced by the industry, he urged the participants to take part in Cargo Facilitation Committee (CAFAC) meetings held on the first Friday of every month, and have their grievances redressed.

On issues pertaining to heavy equipment and machinery, Gazder observed that the airport is yet to develop capacity to uplift cargo by international airlines.

“AAICLAS will nevertheless work towards bringing in more freight carriers to reap the business potential in cargo trade. Given the efforts undertaken towards increasing the runway length of the airport, the cargo trade from the region is set to increase exponentially once the landing of heavy freighters and wide-bodied aircraft becomes a reality,” he said.

S Narayanan, Chairman, CII Coimbatore Zone, in his opening remarks, highlighted the region’s business potential and stressed the need for automating cargo handling facility and faster customs clearance.

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